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Steven Winn

Steven Winn is a San Francisco based free-lance writer and critic and frequent City Arts & Lectures interviewer. His work has appeared in Art News, California, Humanities, Manhattan, Symphony Magazine and The San Francisco Chronicle.

Articles by this Author

Streaming Review
December 14, 2020
The Glorious Dover Quartet Shines in a Concert for Cal Performances at Home
BY Steven Winn

The foursome finds inspiration in the music itself — and in each other — despite an empty hall.

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Streaming Review
December 7, 2020
Opera San José Pulls Off a Holiday Miracle With Three Decembers
BY Steven Winn

The Jake Heggie/Gene Scheer opera is available for streaming through Dec. 31.

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Streaming Review
November 23, 2020
Young Artists Have the Cure for Pandemic Blues
BY Steven Winn

SF Girls Chorus and Ars Minerva team up for Juditha Triumphans and works by Barbara Strozzi and Isabella Leonarda.

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Streaming Review
November 16, 2020
SF Symphony’s “Throughline” Hits the Mark
BY Steven Winn

The hour-long concert takes a cinematic approach to its melding of musical works with insightful commentary by Esa-Pekka Salonen, musicians, and SFS personnel.

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Recording Review
November 2, 2020
Zesty Cello Sonatas From Jonah Kim and Sean Kennard
BY Steven Winn

The youthful pair give robust, fully committed readings of sonatas from Rachmaninoff and Barber.

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Recording Review
October 23, 2020
A New Recording of The Rose Elf Is Right in Time for Halloween
BY Steven Winn

David Hertzberg’s spooky chamber orchestra recasts a Hans Christian Andersen tale of spirit possession.

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Streaming Review
October 19, 2020
The Green Room Hosts Archived Magic From the Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center
BY Steven Winn

Copland’s original chamber setting for Appalachian Spring is revelatory.

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Recording Review
October 12, 2020
Joshua Bell’s Artistry Needs No Concert Stage to Impress
BY Steven Winn

The violin virtuoso shines in an eclectic recital recorded at home with a handful of gifted cohorts.

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Opera Review
October 5, 2020
Lucas and Irina Meachem Deliver the Goods From Home
BY Steven Winn

The presentation may have been folksy, but the power couple delivered serious operatic artistry in their online recital.

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Recording Review
September 25, 2020
A Heavenly Mass for the Endangered From Gallicantus
BY Steven Winn

Sarah Kirkland Snider uses the traditional form for new musical ideas in her hymn to Earth and its inhabitants.

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Recording Review
September 19, 2020
A New Recording of Proving Up Crackles With Energy
BY Steven Winn

Missy Mazzoli’s neo-Gothic opera evokes themes of the American dream on the harsh prairie frontier.

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Recording Review
September 5, 2020
Pianist Igor Levit Is on a Mission
BY Steven Winn

A sense of urgency infuses the virtuoso’s new double-CD release.

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Recording Review
August 21, 2020
Balm for the Soul From Daniel Hope @Home
BY Steven Winn

An anthology of the violinist's intimate livestream performances with special guests is a relaxed audio bouquet of comfortable standards.

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Recording Review
August 17, 2020
Pianist Sergei Babayan’s Latest Is a Jewel Box of Rachmaninoff Miniatures
BY Steven Winn

Each étude, prelude, and little musical moment is polished, precise, and personal on this Deutsche Grammophon release.

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Recording Review
July 13, 2020
David Lang’s love fail Shines in a Fresh Recording
BY Steven Winn

The Lorelei Ensemble sings Lang’s updated setting of the Tristan and Isolde story with elegance and conviction.

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Recording Review
June 28, 2020
A Winning Goat Rodeo Sequel With Yo-Yo Ma and Chris Thile
BY Steven Winn

Ma reunites with a trio of expert bluegrass players on a new CD.

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Recording Review
May 30, 2020
MTT and SF Symphony Take Aaron Copland’s Third to New Heights
BY Steven Winn

A digital-only release captures a masterful 2018 performance of this great American work.

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Recording Review
May 23, 2020
Come for the Beethoven, Stay for the Schumann
BY Steven Winn

Kindra Scharich and Jeffrey LaDeur make musical alchemy on To My Distant Beloved.

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CD Review
May 11, 2020
Arvo Pärt’s Spiritual Imagination Infuses an Exciting Disc From Gloriae dei Cantores
BY Steven Winn

Stabat Mater reveals the diversity of the Estonian composer’s musical ideas.

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CD Review
April 17, 2020
Sony’s Beethoven’s World CDs Celebrate the Master’s Contemporaries
BY Steven Winn

The latest disc features intriguing cello concertos by Antonin Reicha and Bernhard Romberg, plus sprightly dances from Josef von Eybler.

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